Divider construction for golf club bag



Dec. 30, 1958 R. E. THOMPSON DIVIDER CONSTRUCTION FOR com CLUB BAG arch25, 1957 Filed M IN l E N 70/? A ORNEVS.

DIVIDER CONSTRUCTION FOR GOLF CLUB BAG Robert E. Thompson, Des Moines,Iowa, assignor to Des Moines Glove & Mfg. Company, Inc., Des Moines,Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application March 25, 1957, Serial No.648,258

3 Claims (Cl. ISO-1.5)

The present invention relates to golf bags, and more particularly togolf bags of the type provided with a clo sable, flexible hood connectedto the upper end of the bag and adapted to be positioned for enclosingthe upper area of the golf clubs normally projecting out of the bag, forprotecting the golf clubs during inclement weather, or during storage,or transportation of the bag and clubs. Usually, the hoods for golf bagsare so designed that upon their being opened they may be folded downinto the bag so as to lie in close proximity to the inner wall of thebag, thereby permitting convenientinsertion of the clubs, and removalfrom the bag.

Heretofore, such golf bags were, in general, provided with dividerspositioned in the mouth of the bag for segregating the golf clubs intodesired groups. In some recent constructions of golf bags, the dividerswere removably mounted in place by, and supported on, flexible straps,which have not been found satisfactory because the straps and dividerstend to sag and bow due to the weight of the clubs thereagainst, andwhich results in improper club segregation and division. Suchconstructions also tend to pull in the side walls of the bag, andthereby reducing and distorting the size and shape of the mouth of thebag, which further impairs its proper and efficient use.

In other constructions, dividers have been employed which permit theirremoval or securement in place in the mouth of the bag by screws orthumb screws inserted from the exterior of the bag. Such constructionshave not been found totally satisfactory due to the difliculty and timeconsumed in placement and removal of the dividers, and because thescrews frequently become lost in process of removal or replacement.Furthermore, thumb screws projecting externally of the bag also areobjectionable because of their catching on and snagging against clothingand other objects.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a noveldivider construction for golf bags which totally obviates the foregoingobjections.

Another object is to provide a novel divider construction for golf bagswhich permits quick and easy removal of the divider from, and remountingin, the mouth of the bag. A further object is to provide 'a' noveldivider construction for a golf bag which may be quickly and easilyremoved from, and remounted in, the mouth of the bag, and which assistsin maintaining the proper size and shape of the mount of the bag andinsures proper spacing and segregation of the clubs in the bag.

Still another object is to provide a novel divider construction for golfbags which is simple, efficient in use, and capable of beingeconomically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional golf bag withportions of the side wall broken away to show details of construction,it being provided with the novel divider construction embodying thepresent invention.

States Patent Patented Dec. 30, 1958 Figure 2 is a fragmentary view ofthe upper portion of the golf bag represented in Figure 1 of the drawingshowing the closable, flexible hood extended in operative position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the upper end of the golf bag showing thenovel divider construction.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the bagtaken substantially as indicated at line 4-4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the divider construction taken asindicated at line 55 on Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view, part in section and part in elevation, ofone of the divider elements embodying the present invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary face view, taken as indicated at line 7-7 onFigure 4, showing one of the mounting brackets for the divider.

As represented in the drawing, the conventional golf bag is indicatedgenerally at 10, having a pair of apparel pockets 12 and 14, and ahandle 16. The bag is usually provided with a conventional shoulderstrap, not shown. Generally, the body of the bag and its pockets areformed of flexible material, such as leather, canvas, and other fabrics.The upper end of the bag is usually provided with a rigid reinforcingmember to define the mouth of the bag, and the side member is surroundedby a suitable covering material, such as leather,'as indicated at 18, soas to protect the golf clubs that come in contact therewith.

Surrounding the upper portion of the bag is a relatively rigidreinforcing collar 20, of any suitable material, such as leather, fiber,or the like, to which is attached the body of the bag. Also secured tothe side of the collar, directly or by attachment to the inner wall ofthe bag, is a closable, flexible hood 24 which, as shown, is providedwith a relatively wide mouth opening adapted to be closed by aconventional zipper 26. When the zipper is moved to open the hood, thebody of the hood may then be folded downwardly through the mouth intothe interior of the bag so as to lie in close proximity to the innersurface of the wall of the bag, as seen in Figures 1 and 4 of thedrawing. When the hood is extended and closed, as seen in Figure 2, itserves to surround and fully enclose the upper ends of the projectingportions of golf clubs within the bag. Secured to one wall of theflexible hood is a suitable pocket, as indicated at 28, which is exposedfor use when the hood is extended to operative position,

as seen in Figure 2, and which pocket provides a convenient place ofstorage for the divider elements that have previously been removed fromthe mouth of the bag for the purpose of enabling the hood to bewithdrawn to its extended position.

A illustrated in the drawing, the golf bag is provided with a pair ofstructures embodying the present invention. Due to the generallytriangular shape of the mouth of the bag as represented, the dividerstructures are of different lengths, but otherwise are essentially thesame in construction and operation. Each divider structure includes anelongated, preferably cylindrical supporting member 30, formed at oneend with a rigid projection or trunnion 32. The opposite end of thesupporting mem her is formed with an elongated bore or passage 34, inwhich is sl-idably mounted a rigid member 36 which, at its outer end, isformed with a reduced projection or trunnion 38. The member 36 is formedwith a longitudinally extending slot 40, into which projects a screw 42threaded through the wall of the bore of the supporting member 30. Acoil spring 44, is positioned within the bore 34, and seats against theinner end of the members 36, so as to yieldingly project the member 36to its maximum limited position as determined by the set screw 42abutting one end of the slot 40. By virtue of this construction, themember 36 with its projection 38 may be yieldingly moved in and out withrespect to the main support member 30.

Mounted in aligned relation on the opposite surface of the inner wall ofthe bag in registration with the collar 20, are a pair of bracketmembers 48, for each divider structure. The bracket members 48 arerigidly attached in place by rivets 50, extending through thereinforcing collar of the bag. These bracket members 48 are providedwith a raised central circular portion 52, which is provided with acentral opening 54, for the reception of the projections 32 and 38 ofthe divider. The divider may be quickly placed in operative position byfirst inserting the projection 38 into the opening 54 of one of thebracket members, and pressure is exerted longitudinally so that theadjacent shoulder of the projection 38, abuts against the embossedportion 52 of the bracket, and by virtue of the construction abovedescribed, the main support member 30 telescopes over the member 36 forshortening the overall length of the divider, until the projection 32 atthe opposite end may be registered with the opening 54 of the oppositebracket member. Upon release of pressure, the spring 44 will then expandthe assembly so that both projections 32 and 38 remain firmly seated inthe respective brackets. To remove the divider assembly, the oppositeprocedure is followed.

The main supporting member 30 of the divider structure may be formed ofany suitable material, and preferably each divider assembly issurrounded by and constitutes a support for a divider flap, indicated at60. Pref erably, though not necessarily, the divider flap is made ofleather and is wrapped at its upper and around the member 30, and issecured in place by stitching. The divider flap assists in protectingthe clubs within the bag, and in providing proper support for the clubsin a segregated manner. For convenience in use, the divider fiaps at alltimes remain in assembled relation with the divider structure. When thedividers are removed from the mouth of the bag preparatory to extendingthe hood 24, to the position seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, saiddivider assemblies may be temporarily stored in the pocket 28 of thehood.

Although i have herein shown and described certain preferred embodimentsof my invention, manifestly it is capable of further modification andrearrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scopethereof. For example, in lieu of the specific arrangement disclosed asyieldingly maintaining the divider assemblies in operative position, Imight choose to employ a divider of rigid, unitary structure having apair of fixed projections or trunnions at opposite ends, and wherein thespring means for maintaining the divider in operative position may beenclosed in a modified form of one of the bracket members. I do not,therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to theprecise embodiment herein illustrated, except as I may be so limited bythe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a golf bag having a flexible, closable hood attached to the upperend of the bag and adapted to be opened and folded down into the bag inclose relation to the inner wall of the bag; the improvement comprisingone or more club dividers removably mounted and totally supported on theinner side walls of the mouth portion of the bag, said divider includinga pair of bracket members fixedly secured to opposite inner side wallsof the upper end of the bag, an elongated support member having reducedshouldered projections at opposite ends for seating in said bracketmembers, and spring means associated with one of said members forreleasably securing said projections in operative position in saidbracket members, whereby upon removal of the dividers the hood may bewithdrawn from the bag to an extended position for enclosing the upperends of the golf clubs in the bag.

2. In a golf bag having a flexible, closable hood attached to the upperend of the bag and adapted to be opened and folded down into the bag inclose relation to the inner wall of the bag; the improvement comprisingone or more club dividers removably mounted and totally supported on theinner side walls of the mouth portion of the bag, said divider includinga pair of bracket members fixedly secured to opposite inner side wallsof the upper end of the bag, an elongated support member having reducedshouldered projections at opposite ends for seating in said bracketmembers, one of said projections being mounted for longitudinal movementrelative to said supporting member, means for limiting said movement inan outward direction, and spring means carried by said supporting memberfor yieldingly urging said one projection to its outer limited positionof movement.

3. In a golf bag having a flexible closable hood attached to the upperend of the bag and adapted to be opened and folded down into the bag inclose relation to the inner wall of the bag; the improvement comprisingone or more club dividers removably mounted and totally supported on theinner side walls of the mouth portion of the bag, said divider includinga pair of bracket members fixedly secured to opposite inner side wallsof the upper end of the bag, an elongated support member having reducedshouldered projections at opposite ends for seating in said bracketmembers, one of said projections being mounted for longitudinal movementrelative to said supporting member, means for limiting said movement inan outward direction, the other projection being fixed relative to saidsupporting member, and spring means carried by said supporting memberfor yieldingly urging said one projection to its outer limited positionof movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,780,802 Sutclifie Nov. 4, 1930 1,908,998 Mullins May 16, 19331,968,723. Thorsen July 31, 1934 2,000,538 Resnick May 7, 1935 2,591,217Thompson Apr. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 206,625 Great Britain Nov. 15,1923

